November 1, 2019
OML UPDATE AT-A-GLANCE
Here are the top three things you need to know from this past week:
- Three drug distribution companies and a drug manufacturing company being sued by Summit and Cuyahoga counties agreed to a settlement last week. The distribution companies will pay $215 million to the counties and the drug manufacturing company will pay $20 million and donate $25 million in Suboxone, a drug that can help combat opioid addition. The League has been participating in meetings Governor DeWine has been holding at his residence with local government representatives to discuss creating a statewide framework for distributing future grant and settlement dollars from current opioid lawsuits down to municipalities and counties that have been impacted by the crisis. Our future bulletins will report on the progress of these discussions.
- The Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) has announced this week that they will be awarding $70 million in state funding to local agencies for public transportation. Additionally, the Federal Transit Authority (FTA) has awarded $35 million in funding to assist Ohio's rural transit providers. You can read a breakdown of the programs and transit authorities receiving these awarded funds HERE.
- The DeWine Administration has announced they have approved assistance to nine new economic development proposals. These projects are expected to generate over $82 million in new payroll and over $89 million in investments while creating 1,222 new jobs and retaining 1,883 jobs across the state. You can read a breakdown of the projects receiving the assistance HERE.
68th OML ANNUAL CONFERENCE A SUCCESS
The League would like to thank all of our members who were able to take time out of their busy schedules last week to attend our Annual Conference last week and took advantage of the networking, roundtable discussions, workshops and exclusive keynote addresses. We also want to thank all our speakers for helping ensure our conference was a valuable educational experience for our members. It is always our goal to ensure our attendees leave with timely and relevant information and strong relationships with other municipal leaders that will help them as they serve their local cities and villages.
We also hope that attendees got the chance to talk to our exhibitors and learn more about the various important service providers the League partner's with to help cities and villages continue to deliver quality services to their communities.
We were excited to feature new guest speakers and new programming this year. We want to thank nationally-renown communications expert, Jan Hargrave, for teaching our attendees how to nonverbally project confidence and read body language. We also want to thank Leon Andrews, Director for the National League of Cities' Race, Equity and Leadership (REAL) initiative, who discussed the importance of fostering race equity in our communities. We hope our attendees enjoyed these fresh topics and exciting new speakers and were able to take useful information back to their local communities.
We look forward to seeing everyone again next year!
LEAGUE DELIVERS PROPONENT TESTIMONY ON ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
LEGISLATION
This week and last, the League offered proponent testimony on two bills that would help stimulate economic development throughout the state and within Ohio's cities and villages.
The first bill, SB 39, is sponsored by Sen. Schuring (R - Canton) and would authorize an insurance premiums tax credit for capital contributions to transformational mixed-use development projects. (Link: https://bit.ly/2WczNRB)
During its third hearing before the House Economic and Workforce Development Committee last week, the League's Executive Director Kent Scarrett submitted written proponent testimony. "
The construction and use of transformational mixed-use developments (TMUDs) within municipalities can have a substantial impact within a municipality," said Dir. Scarrett. "The potential economic development of these kinds of buildings is broad as revenues can be generated from retail, entertainment or dining sales, job creation, increased property values and revenue from sales, income and lodging taxes." You can read the League's testimony in full HERE.
The second bill, HB 312, is sponsored by Rep. Powell (R - Laura), would permit intrastate equity crowdfunding under certain circumstances.
During its second hearing before the House Financial Institutions Committee, the League offered written proponent testimony on the bill. The testimony supported the bill's promotion of economic development and job creation in the state. The legislation would allow businesses to raise up to $5 million in intrastate equity crowdfunding for the purposes of starting or expanding a business. 80% of the business's assets must be located in Ohio, 80% of the money raised must be spent in Ohio and only Ohio residents would be able to purchase securities.
You can read the League's testimony in full HERE.
The League wants to thank Sen. Schuring and Rep. Powell for introducing legislation aimed at generating more economic development opportunities in our municipalities throughout the state. We will continue to report on these bills as they move through the legislative process.
MUNICIPAL INCOME TAX PREEMPTION BILL INTRODUCED
A bill from previous General Assemblies jeopardizing local control of municipal income tax revenues has been re-introduced this week. HB 382, sponsored by Rep. Jordan (R - Ostrander), would prohibit municipal corporations from levying an income tax on non-residents' compensation for personal services or on net profits from a sole proprietorship owned by a nonresident. (Link: https://bit.ly/337YMIv) Rep. Jordan introduced this bill during his previous terms in the Ohio Senate.
HB 382 is a threat to the stability of municipal revenues and would deliver yet another substantial financial blow that would impact municipalities ability to deliver critical services to businesses and residents of their local community.
We often say municipalities are the economic engines of our state. Cities and villages are home to 80% of all the business in Ohio, making municipalities a cornerstone of economic development and job growth throughout the state. Municipal revenues create and sustain the quality infrastructure, safety personnel and other services necessary to attract and retain businesses. Prohibiting municipalities from levying income tax on nonresidents who benefit from the delivery of municipal services would create a financial blow that would impede cities and villages in generating the economic development and job growth throughout Ohio.
We want our members to be aware of this bill's re-introduction so they can contact their legislative delegation and educate them on exactly how this misguided bill would not only negatively impact Ohio's municipalities, but the state as a whole. We will be closely monitoring this bill and alert our members in the event it receives any hearings.
OHIO SENIOR CITIZENS HALL OF FAME NOMINATIONS OPEN
The Ohio Department of Aging is currently soliciting nominations of older adults to be considered for 2020 inductions into the Ohio Senior Citizens Hall of Fame, which honors native-born or long-time Ohio residents age 60 and older who are defined by their actions, not their age.
"We are looking for individuals who defy convention and continue to play a significant role in the success of their community and their fields of endeavor," said Ursel J. McElroy, director of the department. "Certainly, you know someone who is worthy of induction into the Ohio Senior Citizens Hall of Fame."
Since 1976, 486 exceptional older Ohioans have been inducted into the Ohio Senior Citizens Hall of Fame.
Past inductees have included business and industry leaders, advocates, community planners, educators, scientists, health care professionals, volunteers, artists, entertainers, athletes, and more.
Inductees are selected from public nominations. Nominees are evaluated on the scope and impact of their contributions begun or continued after age 60. Nominees must be native-born Ohioans or have been residents of the state for at least 10 years. Posthumous nominations are accepted, provided the date of death is within the last five years and the nominee was age 60 or older at the time of death.
New members are inducted each May as the state and nation celebrates Older Americans Month. Nominations must be received by Nov. 29, 2019 to be considered for induction in 2020.
Learn more, access the nomination form, and view past inductees at www.aging.ohio.gov/halloffame. You can request a paper nomination form by calling 614-728-0253.
AMERICAN COUNCIL OF ENGINEERING COMPANIES OF OHIO OFFERING NEW ETHICS TRAINING COURSE
The American Council of Engineering Companies of Ohio (ACEC) is excited to announce that they have partnered with industry leaders to develop an online, on-demand ethics training course customized for Ohio ethics and law.
In 2018, the Ohio Legislature added a new requirement for license renewal; two-hour's worth of ethics training pertaining to the Ohio Revised Code every two years. With this new requirement, ACEC Ohio took action and developed a low-cost course to satisfy the training requirements.
The ACEC Ohio course consists of a two-part module, equating to two hours of work and is available to all engineers working in Ohio for a $50 registration cost. Visit acecohio.cd2learning.com to register. Call 614-487-8844 or email info@acecohio.org with any questions.
BILLS IMPACTING MUNICIPALITIES PASSED BY HOUSE
Here are the bills affecting municipalities that were passed by the House of Representatives last week:
- HB 295 - ELECTRIC SCOOTERS. Sponsored by Rep. Hoops (R - Napoleon), would establish requirements governing low-speed electric scooters. The House passed the measure 89-1. The League is neutral on this legislation.
- HB 119 - LOCAL CONTROL-TRAFFIC VIOLATIONS. Sponsored by Rep. Stoltzfus (R - Paris Township), would grant municipal and county courts original and exclusive jurisdiction over any civil action concerning a traffic law violation, modify certain requirements governing the use of traffic law photo-monitoring devices by a local authority, and make corrective changes to the distracted driving and texting-while-driving law. The bill was amended during the committee process to remove the provisions pertaining to traffic law photo monitoring devices. The House passed the measure 91-2. The League is neutral on this legislation.
COMMITTEE RECAP: BILLS OF MUNICIPAL INTEREST
Here are the bills impacting municipalities that received committee hearings this week:
- HB 228 - LAW ENFORCEMENT TAX CREDIT. Sponsored by Sen. Schaffer (R - Lancaster), would allow an income tax credit for law enforcement officials who purchase safety or protective items to be used in the course of official law enforcement activities. The bill received sponsor testimony before the House Ways and Means Committee this week. The League is supportive of this legislation.
- HB 10 - OFFICE OF DRUG POLICY. Sponsored by Rep. Brown (D - Canal Winchester) and Rep. Stoltzfus (R - Paris Township), would establish the Governor's Office of Drug Policy and make an appropriation. During its fifth hearing before the Senate General Government and Agency Review Committee, the bill was amended to update the appropriations in the bill to reflect the State Operating Budget and was reported unanimously out of committee. The League is supportive of this legislation.
COMMITTEE SCHEDULE FOR THE WEEK OF NOVEMBER 3, 2019
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Tuesday, November 5, 2019
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SENATE WAYS AND MEANS
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Tue., Nov. 5, 2019, 11:15 AM, Senate Finance Hearing Room
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Sen. Roegner: 614-466-4823
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AUTHORIZE TOWNSHIPS-EXEMPT PROPERTY TAX (SCHURING K) To authorize townships and municipal corporations to designate areas within which new homes and improvements to existing homes are wholly or partially exempted from property taxation.
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First Hearing, Sponsor Testimony
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TAX CREDIT-LAW ENFORCEMENT (SCHAFFER T) To allow an income tax credit for law enforcement officials who purchase safety or protective items to be used in the course of official law enforcement activities.
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Second Hearing, Proponent Testimony
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SENATE GOVERNMENT OVERSIGHT AND REFORM
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Tue., Nov. 5, 2019, 3:15 PM, South Hearing Room
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Sen. Coley: 614-466-8072
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FIREARMS REGULATIONS (DOLAN M) To provide for the issuance in specified circumstances of a Safety Protection Order to apply regarding a person who a court determines is under a drug dependency, chronic alcoholic, or mental health-related firearms disability; to specify LEADS and NCIC reporting and removal procedures for current types of protection orders; to require the submission to the Attorney General for inclusion in LEADS of findings of IST or NGRI; to modify some of the prohibitions under the offense of "unlawful transactions in weapons" and add new prohibitions and exemptions under the offense, including a new exemption if a state background check mechanism the bill enacts is used and does not indicate that the prospective transferee is barred from firearms possession; to provide in specified circumstances for the issuance of a seller's protection certificate under the new state background check mechanism; to increase the penalty for certain firearms-related offenses in specified circumstances; to modify the law governing the entry of arrest warrants into LEADS as extradition warrants; to expand the law regarding the provision of drug and alcohol test results to law enforcement personnel; and to provide a new exception to the testimonial privilege for specified medical and dental personnel regarding certain probate court proceedings.
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First Hearing, Sponsor Testimony
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PROHIBIT FIREARMS ACCESSORIES (THOMAS C, LEHNER P) To generally prohibit a person from possessing trigger cranks, bump-fire devices, or other items that accelerate a semi-automatic firearm's rate of fire but do not convert it into an automatic firearm and large capacity magazines.
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First Hearing, Sponsor Testimony
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Wednesday, November 6, 2019
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HOUSE ECONOMIC AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT
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Wed., Nov. 6, 2019, 10:00 AM, Hearing Room 114
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Rep. Zeltwanger: 614-644-6027
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MIXED USE DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS-TAX CREDIT (SCHURING K) To authorize an insurance premiums tax credit for capital contributions to transformational mixed use development projects.
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Fourth Hearing, All Testimony
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SENATE LOCAL GOVERNMENT, PUBLIC SAFETY AND VETERANS AFFAIRS
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Wed., Nov. 6, 2019, 2:30 PM, South Hearing Room
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Sen. Manning: 614-644-7613
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OR AFTER SESSION
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PROHIBIT TAX-PLASTIC BAGS (RULLI M) To authorize the use of an auxiliary container for any purpose, to prohibit the imposition of a tax or fee on those containers, and to apply existing anti-littering law to those containers.
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First Hearing, Sponsor Testimony
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HOUSE STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT
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Wed., Nov. 6, 2019, 3:00 PM, Hearing Room 122
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Rep. Wiggam: 614-466-1474
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OR AFTER SESSION
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WATER DEVELOPMENT-LOAN REFINANCING (WILKIN S, O'BRIEN M) To allow the Ohio Water Development Authority to provide for the refinancing of loans for certain public water and waste water infrastructure projects.
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Third Hearing, All Testimony, POSSIBLE VOTE
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CHECK THE WEBSITE MONDAY FOR ANY CHANGES TO THE COMMITTEE SCHEDULE
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